I don't usually get into this stuff, but I'm gonna stick my foot in my mouth anyway.
Some of you don't get it. I have lived in southern Michigan about all my life. And hunted here since I was legally able to. I hated using a dang shotgun for deer hunting. Yeah, if you go up north rifles are legal. But there are more deer down here in the farm belt. I spent my teens using smooth bore 12 gauges. When rifled barrels came out I spent a lot of money and time trying them. Better, but still not quite right. Then muzzle loaders, accurate, but a bear to clean. And not too quick on a second shot.
Then we finally get the dim wits in the DNR to try the pistol caliber rifles. 35 caliber and up, case length of 1.16 to 1.8 inches. Finally a little sense. I watched a few friends try the 450 Bushmaster, shoots great, but reminds me of a dang 12 gauge again.
I have a 44 mag lever gun, I love my encore in 445 SM, and yes I have a 357 max in a contender. All great cartridges. I think if someone would build a decent lever gun, or even a bolt gun, in 357 max we could all be happy.
But unless you are restricted on what you can use, you just really don't get it. I would love to be able to use my 30-30, or 308, or 243, or any of my other true big game rifles. But not unless I go up north.
So I tried the 350 legend. My brother and I both did.
Wow, for right out of the box with factory ammo, pretty impressive. Deer season, 120 yards for me, one shot. Meat in the freezer. My brother took 2 deer. One at 180 yards, the second at 200. We are pretty impressed. Yes, I will spend some time this summer loading for it and try to make it better. With what I can get anyway.
But I don't see where it is greater than the 357 max, in equal rifles not any less either. But until you can get factory rifles and ammo for the max it will have to do. It is here, it is legal, and it works. That is all.